CWUF threatens legal action over Estate Housing Funds

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 December 2004, 04:49 GMT]"We gave five thousand bank account pass-books, each with the deposit of thirty thousand rupees, to enable the estate workers to build their own houses during the tenure of Peoples Alliance government during 2002. Some political leaders are now working to return the money back to government. If this attempt continues we will take legal action," said Sathasivam the former parliamentarian and the general secretary of Ceylon Workers United Front, in a meeting held at Maskeliya head office, chaired by the S.Sivasundharam the deputy secretary of CWUF, sources said.

"Estate rade unions have supported an agreement with the estate workers and their employers which prevents the workers from asking for a pay raise for two years. The estate workers were not given anything through this budget too. No employment opportunities were given to the educated youths.

"Our people in the estate are not getting any relief as the people in the other areas receive. Pirapaharan is fighting for the rights of the people in north-east. But the upcountry political leaders are doing nothing while people are loosing their existing rights," Mr. Sathasivam added.

"The chauvinist JVP which is working against the peace process is able to get many concessions to its community through this budget. Using the numerical power they are having in parliament they would have got a pay raise to the estate workers. People should be vigilant about these activities," said Mr. S.Sivasundharam the deputy secretary of CWUF.